Ah, the 30s — where confidence meets complexity, and life gets just interesting enough to keep everyone on their toes. If you’re dating or simply mingling, you’ve likely noticed that men in their 30s are a whole different species from their 20-something counterparts. They’ve been through things – jobs, heartbreaks, hair loss – and that makes the dating pool even more… fascinating.
Men are a curious bunch, even more so if they are in their 30s. Here are 7 types of 30-something men you’ll always meet. These are guys in their 30s that you’re bound to encounter – and possibly swipe right on.
The Complete Package
Ah, the complete package. We have to say it — Yes, unicorns do exist.
This guy is smart, well-traveled, athletic, and is romantic. He has a great career going for himself, but he isn’t a workaholic. He’s more of a family man. This kind of guy might seem like he has everything together, but he is lacking a girlfriend (maybe, you!). He wants a woman who is just as great for him as he is for her, but he has his standards and is never satisfied by the women he does meet if she is not the one.
He’s emotionally intelligent, has a stable job, takes care of himself, and takes care of his woman. You can be sure that he always texts back without games, he initiates the connection and invites you to join in. When you win a dream man like this, you feel safe and cozy both on a date in a fancy restaurant and while he somehow cooks a mean pasta at home. He’s not perfect (nobody is), but he knows what he wants and isn’t afraid of commitment. He may have taken a few hits in his 20s, but now he’s leveled up.
If you’ve ever watched The Office, we bet you cared about Jim and Pam’s relationship more than you did your own. Jim is our guy, the complete package. He’s smart, emotionally mature, funny, and loyal – he knows what (and who) he wants, and he goes for it. See, he doesn’t have to be rich or powerful to make the woman next to him feel like she’s hit the jackpot when he finally makes his move on her.
Dating Tip:
If you meet him, don’t let cynicism or fear sabotage it. This is the guy love websites were made for – mature singles who are actually ready for something meaningful.
The New Lease on Life Guy
This guy has dated the same woman since high school, even though he never really seemed too happy about it. Now that he is single, he plans to tackle the dating world with gusto. He doesn’t know how to be single in his 30s, but he’s thrilled that he is.
Maybe he just got out of a long-term relationship or went through a total life glow-up — now he’s on fire, eager to explore everything he missed in his 20s. If he avoided variety before, now he is open to everything (and everyone). He might be trying salsa one week and skydiving the next. And he will be glad if his woman supports this spark in him. This guy is fun, adventurous, and buzzing with newfound confidence.
Dating Tip:
If you’re into energy and reinvention, this guy is gold. For some, this may be too much. Just be clear about your intentions because he might still be figuring his out.
The Keeping-It-in-the-Ethnicity Guy
Not only is finding a partner difficult, but this guy also has it that much harder because he has to marry someone who is of the same background/ethnicity/religion as he or his family will basically disown him. It sucks, and many times he may try to rebel, but he gives it up when he and his girlfriend isn’t allowed over.
Remember Charlotte and Harry from Sex and the City and their “I’ll only marry a Jewish woman” issue? She eventually won his heart, although the road was rocky. But the kind of guy he was, and the kind of husband and father he turned out to be, made it all worth it. Guys like him are deeply rooted (even if unconsciously, because of their upbringing), family-oriented, and take their promises seriously. When they love, they love wholeheartedly – and they want a partner who values something real and lasting.
The positive side still prevails. This type of man in his 30s is close to his roots – family, culture, traditions – and he’s looking for someone who gets it. Whether it’s values, wanting to raise kids within the same faith or culture, or a dying promise to his mother, this guy knows who he is and what he’s looking for.
Dating Tip:
Compatibility for him is deeper than interests – it’s about shared background or mutual respect for each other’s heritage. On dating sites, filters for culture and values make connecting much easier.
The Guy Who Hit His Prime Too Early
This guy peaked in high school or college – he was the hot jock, the party king, the heartbreaker. Fast-forward a decade and he’s still telling those same stories, only now with a slight beer belly and nostalgic sigh.
This guy was everything that a girl could ever want. The keyword here: was. When he was in his late-teens and early 20s, every woman he met wanted to be the center of his attention. Except, now that he’s 30, he’s balding, he has a dead-end job, and his approach to life is kind of boring.
He’s charming, but may be more into reliving his glory days back then than building a future.
Dating Tip:
A fun dinner? Sure. A long-term partner? Only if he realizes life isn’t a never-ending frat party.
The Guy Who Finally Became a Great Catch
This guy used to be a loser that no one wanted to date. He may have been overweight, had bad acne, played Dungeons and Dragons and was the quintessential loser. However, time has been really good to this guy and now he is quite the catch. Because this newfound hotness is still new to him, he assumes that women are still out of his league.
This guy was the shy, awkward dude you barely noticed ten years ago. Now? He’s confident, polished, and genuinely interesting. He’s done the work—career, mental health, physical glow-up — and is now quietly killing it.
He doesn’t brag, and that’s part of the charm.
Dating Tip:
Don’t overlook the quiet ones. Dating websites are full of these late bloomers looking for someone who sees their worth — finally.
The Misogynist (Yes, Still a Thing)
You’d think by their 30s this type would’ve been left in the early 2000s, but you may still meet the guy who thinks women owe him something. He complains about “modern dating,” expects to be praised for basic decency, and thinks “feminist” is a red flag.
This guy doesn’t like women, and they don’t like him (until someone does, actually). He is pretty clueless about women, but that doesn’t stop him from banging every chick that will give him the time of day. In his youth, it was a lot easier hitting on chicks, but now? Women his age have no patience to deal with his BS. So he may well switch to someone younger.
There may be a catch here. When a sensitive guy pretends to be a misogynist, although in reality he is a good guy who has had bad luck before, including with women. In fact, he may be a variation of the previous type from our list of men over 30. Like Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother (at least in the early seasons). He is funny, but deeply rooted in objectifying women, playing games, and avoiding commitment (after his love failure at a young age). While he’s entertaining, he represents the guy who hasn’t evolved – and usually needs a serious reality check. All his playbooks and seduction scenarios are just a smokescreen (as we see later), and this guy is capable of love and deep feelings… but if he gets rejected again, he’ll be stuck playing games even further.
Dating Tip:
If you meet a real misogynist — run. No witty exit line required – just close the chat window and go find literally anyone else.
The Normal Guy Still Looking for the Right Woman
He’s not flashy, not damaged, not in a hurry – just a grounded, kind man navigating the wild world of dating with optimism. He probably has many friends, makes great coffee, and is hoping to meet a soulmate he can laugh with at 11 PM in sweatpants.
This guy is out there enjoying his life. He likes everything about his life, and he isn’t in any rush to settle down — at least until he really falls in love. However, people in his life are concerned because he is still single and doesn’t seem to be getting a girl anytime soon. This guy just wishes people would back off and mind their own business – and stop pitying him!
If we dig deeper, among men over 30 of this type, there are not only those who are slow in dating yet still believe in love, but also those who love big romantic gestures. And if we’re talking about How I Met Your Mother, it’s time to mention Ted Mosby. A hopeless romantic, he’s just a regular guy trying (sometimes too hard) to find “the one”. He believes in love, takes dating seriously, and genuinely wants something long-term.
Dating Tip:
He might not make fireworks on the first date (although if you catch a Ted-type-of-man, he probably does) — but he’s likely to light a slow-burning fire you’ll want to keep around. These are the guys who shine in the long run.
All these guys in their 30s are out there – at the coffee shop, in your gym class, or scrolling through dating sites during their lunch break. If you’re serious about finding someone on your level, start where genuine people gather.
LoveAgain.com is a great option for meeting mature singles who are over the dating drama and ready for something real. You may be into The Complete Package, vibing with The New Lease on Life guy, or wanting to meet the perfect man worth your time, there’s someone waiting to meet you.
So here’s to good coffee, better dates, and finding your favorite type of guy in his 30s — maybe even your forever guy.